Cameron tackles PM on education battleground

The controversial issue of the Government's Education White Paper has again been the focus of exchanges between Tony Blair and new Tory leader David Cameron in the Commons.

At Prime Minister's questions, Mr Blair ruled out changes to his education plans to be put forward by Labour rebels.

He said he would not delay the introduction of Trust schools or adopt other changes being put forward by critics.

Mr Cameron again promised to help Mr Blair get the plans through Parliament. He said the Prime Minister faced a choice between his education White Paper and "the white flag".

Mr Blair also pointed to crucial differences between him and Tory leader David Cameron. He said Mr Cameron wanted a return to selection by ability.

With Mr Blair facing a backbench rebellion over the plans for "independent" state schools, Mr Cameron homed-in on the issue for the second week running since assuming the Conservative leadership.

In their last face-to-face clash before Christmas, Mr Cameron said: "Since our exchanges last week, plans for an alternative education White Paper have been published.

"It wasn't produced by the Liberal Democrats ... who have been concentrating on their decapitation strategy."

This was a reference to reports suggesting Charles Kennedy's leadership of the Liberal Democrats was under threat amid unrest among his party's MPs.

Mr Cameron went on: "Reports suggest this

(alternative White Paper) will call for a delay in the introduction of trust schools.

"Will you specifically rule this out?"

Mr Blair replied: "Yes, I will."

Mr Cameron said: "Excellent! I was told I'd never get a straight answer from you and on my second outing I've done so. We're already working very well together."

Mr Cameron said: "We're told the alternative White Paper will propose cutting the power of head teachers, boosting the role of local education authorities, making it more difficult for new schools to set up and putting the code of admissions into statute, which the Education Secretary (Ruth Kelly) has said would undermine discretion and flexibility.

"Wouldn't these changes render your changes completely meaningless. So will you rule them out too?"

Mr Blair said: "I can assure you we will stick with the changes in the White Paper because they are the right changes to make.

"There is a difference between me and those Labour MPs that have put forward different proposals today.

"There's also a difference between me and you. Last week you confirmed that you are in favour of bringing back academic selection.

"You say 'no'. Let me read to you what you said last week on the Today programme. Mr Humphreys said: 'There will be a return to selection by ability if that is what the schools want - let's just be clear about that?' You said: 'That's right.'

"So I'm not the only one giving straight answers."

The Prime Minister dismissed as "completely absurd" calls from the Liberal Democrats for a full investigation of official US flights passing through the UK amid claims they were transporting terror suspects for torture.